Reaching the European Championship finals represents success in itself for England Under-21s manager Stuart Pearce, although the ‘burning ambition’ remains to win the tournament.

The Young Lions did just that in 1982 and 1984, but the best they have managed since is reaching the 2009 final when they where heavily defeated by Germany.

Pearce was at the helm that night and kicks off his fourth successive finals at the Under-21s’ helm against Italy tonight in Tel Aviv.

No other nation in Israel have reached so many consecutive finals and Pearce is proud of that fact, even if victory remains the ultimate goal.

“When you look at my time in charge, France have not been here once and they are a major side,” the former England international said.

“To get here and be part of this fantastic tournament is a success in itself.

“When we start our journey every two years, we sit our players down and we talk about winning the tournament. We are here to win the tournament.

“I would be really disappointed if there was not seven other nations here not here to win it as well. That is the message I only ever send out to the squad.

“On top of that it will be how many players can get tournament experience here, the likes of Jordan Henderson, who can step into the seniors next time round with that experience of tournament football.

“If I strip it down, the burning ambition inside me is to win it.

“But if I strip it down to me doing my job developing players, developing the 23 players here at the moment will have had fantastic experience and know what tournament football is all about.

“Hopefully we will get a few of them stepping forward.

“Roll the clock back two years and you have Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge, all in the seniors who were on this stage and have stepped forward.”

Thomas Ince and Danny Rose miss the opening match through suspension, although there is welcome news in regards to Wilfried Zaha’s fitness.

The 20-year-old, star of Crystal Palace’s rise to the Premier League and who joins United on July 1, has overcome an ankle complaint that forced him to sit out most of training at the start of the week.